How long does it take for jumping spiders to molt?

[Briiii]

Thank you all for your help! He came out today and was incredibly hungry so I gave him a mealworm, he’s doing great!

 

[jeimijamie]

My jumping spider has been in his nest for a week now. I’m pretty sure he’s molting because it’s a really thick nest but I can’t see him. Is it normal for molting to take this long?

I have a young Tan Jumping Spider (tiny enough that I can't make out her markings without visual assistance but can see her basic coloring)... She pigged out about a week ago and then went into her usual sleeping hammock for the next 6 days. She didn't bother creating a thick one for molting. I made sure to keep her enclosure humidity up by adding a couple of moistened cotton balls to the usual moistened sphagnum moss (for drinking water) and a daily fine mist spray on the side wall of her enclosure. I worried she might've been in the process of dying since none of the typical things you hear about molting applied (eating within hours of going to settle in for the molt and doing so in the very fine and thin sleeping web). I only knew she was still alive because sometimes she'd reverse her orientation from one day to the next. Yesterday morning she was out and about and there was an exoskeleton in the hammock, which she's since pushed to the edge of it. So, it took her 6 days to molt. I know this is atypical, but it leads me to believe that a week isn't out of the question in terms of jumping spider molting times.

 

[PhidRegNoob]

Hi folks

Jumping in this thread after a year because I have questions, well one main question. Do pRegius ‘lie down’ to moult a few times before actually moulting?
Mine has built 3 hammocks none particularly thick, I can see through them but all very much a hammock. He has lay down on his back for 2-3 days in each but moved without moulting. He’s had been refusing food, humidity is grand I’m misting every day and making sure there’s some by he hammock for him. When he leaves each hammock to build a new one I have offered food but he’s refused each time so I have been assuming he’s in premoult. Other than that he has been left to get on with it. He seems fine and alert as normal just a bit on the skinny side now. It’s been about 3 weeks now since he has eaten and started his hammocks.

he’s my first spider and I just want to make sure he’s ok, getting everything he needs and I’m not missing something. I’m trying to find a balance, don’t want to be impatient but also don’t want to neglect him

thanks in advance

 

[Nicole C G]

Hi folks

Jumping in this thread after a year because I have questions, well one main question. Do pRegius ‘lie down’ to moult a few times before actually moulting?
Mine has built 3 hammocks none particularly thick, I can see through them but all very much a hammock. He has lay down on his back for 2-3 days in each but moved without moulting. He’s had been refusing food, humidity is grand I’m misting every day and making sure there’s some by he hammock for him. When he leaves each hammock to build a new one I have offered food but he’s refused each time so I have been assuming he’s in premoult. Other than that he has been left to get on with it. He seems fine and alert as normal just a bit on the skinny side now. It’s been about 3 weeks now since he has eaten and started his hammocks.

he’s my first spider and I just want to make sure he’s ok, getting everything he needs and I’m not missing something. I’m trying to find a balance, don’t want to be impatient but also don’t want to neglect him

thanks in advance

My sister’s Eris militaris male did this, where he would not eat for a week but end up not molting. He’s perfectly healthy. If it’s been 3 weeks, that sounds like a really long pre-molt. What food have you been giving him?

 

[PhidRegNoob]

My sister’s Eris militaris male did this, where he would not eat for a week but end up not molting. He’s perfectly healthy. If it’s been 3 weeks, that sounds like a really long pre-molt. What food have you been giving him?

Oh That’s good news about your sister’s

I’ve tried a few things to be honest. I’ve only had him just over a month. The breeder said on the listing they’d been feeding well on green bottle flies, But never answered a single one of my queries about how long since he last fed them, what instar he was at or anything else.

I ordered green bottle feeders from the breeder at the same time but they weren’t hatching, I put 2 casters in the enclosure so he could get them when they did hatch (they never did so I removed them a week or two ago). I went to the pet store and got some meal worms. Little spood didn’t want any. He was still looking plump enough so I didn’t worry too much. Got some fruit flies to be on the safe side. After a few days I put some in the enclosure and he ignored them. I seen every one of them over the next day or two so took them out. Eventually after a week or so, he took down one of the mealworms when I offered it.

about a week later I offered a hatched green bottle but it died inside the enclosure after a few hours as he hadn’t touched it.It was def dead so I left it there until the following day to see if he’d take it anyway but he wasn’t interested. Tried the fruit flies again but still nothing. Green bottle fly he didn’t go near it but took it from the tweezers. Only had it a short while then left it lying and didn’t go back. Didn’t look like he’d had much out of it. He wasn’t as plump as you’d expect after a good feed. That was 2.5-3 weeks ago and he hasn’t touched anything since.

he has been out and had a few explorations, is happy to be handled and likes to look around. Last week or more he’s been staying in his hammocks though and he is looking very under fed

On the plus side the Robin in my garden thinks all the xmasses have come at once with all the live mealworms it’s getting

photos for size, I wouldn’t say he’s adult yet, he’s not much over 1cm, 1.2cm max

thank you!

 

[Nicole C G]

Oh That’s good news about your sister’s

I’ve tried a few things to be honest. I’ve only had him just over a month. The breeder said on the listing they’d been feeding well on green bottle flies, But never answered a single one of my queries about how long since he last fed them, what instar he was at or anything else.

I ordered green bottle feeders from the breeder at the same time but they weren’t hatching, I put 2 casters in the enclosure so he could get them when they did hatch (they never did so I removed them a week or two ago). I went to the pet store and got some meal worms. Little spood didn’t want any. He was still looking plump enough so I didn’t worry too much. Got some fruit flies to be on the safe side. After a few days I put some in the enclosure and he ignored them. I seen every one of them over the next day or two so took them out. Eventually after a week or so, he took down one of the mealworms when I offered it.

about a week later I offered a hatched green bottle but it died inside the enclosure after a few hours as he hadn’t touched it.It was def dead so I left it there until the following day to see if he’d take it anyway but he wasn’t interested. Tried the fruit flies again but still nothing. Green bottle fly he didn’t go near it but took it from the tweezers. Only had it a short while then left it lying and didn’t go back. Didn’t look like he’d had much out of it. He wasn’t as plump as you’d expect after a good feed. That was 2.5-3 weeks ago and he hasn’t touched anything since.

he has been out and had a few explorations, is happy to be handled and likes to look around. Last week or more he’s been staying in his hammocks though and he is looking very under fed

On the plus side the Robin in my garden thinks all the xmasses have come at once with all the live mealworms it’s getting

photos for size, I wouldn’t say he’s adult yet, he’s not much over 1cm, 1.2cm max

thank you!
View attachment 417213 View attachment 417214

For most jumpers swollen palps that look like that indicate he is sub-adult. One molt left until he is an adult.
Unfortunately I can’t judge sizes based on hands because I have somewhat small hands so everything ends up looking tiny compared.
If he was eating the flies well, I suggest continuing to attempt at feeding him those flies. Or you could maybe try dubia roaches?

 

[PhidRegNoob]

My hands are actually quite small too (a bit swollen though as I’ve had an elbow injury that makes me retain some fluid in that one) but small enough to get away with kids gloves

thanks for the advice!! I can only go on what was on the listing regarding how well he was eating the flies, but it says that on every one of the listings so who knows. He’s only eaten that one mealworm and had a nibble at a green bottle fly since I’ve had him. would have been handy if there had been any contact from the breeder I’ll definitely keep trying with the green bottles and see how he goes.

That’s great to know he’s a sub adult with one moult left! That last one usually takes a bit longer anyway doesn’t it? Also longer between meals if I remember correctly? That’s a relief thank you so much

 

[LadyShia77]

I have a Regal sling I've had for about a month now. For the first little bit, it would hide behind a tiny flower on its hideaway and would only come out to eat. Just recently, it created a thick nest and stayed inside for about a week. I'm fairly certain that it molted during that time and stayed inside until its new exoskeleton hardened. It's been back outside now for a few days and is definitely bigger than before.

 

[PhidRegNoob]

I have a Regal sling I've had for about a month now. For the first little bit, it would hide behind a tiny flower on its hideaway and would only come out to eat. Just recently, it created a thick nest and stayed inside for about a week. I'm fairly certain that it molted during that time and stayed inside until its new exoskeleton hardened. It's been back outside now for a few days and is definitely bigger than before.

Thank you! That’s so cute.

None of his hammocks are particularly thick, but they’re definitely hammocks.
Just Today I put some fruit flies in again and he ate 2 of them (finally!! ) then left his hammock that he’s been in for a few days and went to the other one, fixed it up a bit and has been lying down for a few hours now . We shall see if he gets up again or actually moults this time
I got so bored of waiting for him to do it that I bought a female to entertain me while

 

[LadyShia77]

If he's been coming out after being in there for a week, I would say he's done and is just chilling in there. My little guy has made a new hammock/nest on top of his hideaway and has been hanging out here in the evenings not that he's been out.

 

[PhidRegNoob]

If he's been coming out after being in there for a week, I would say he's done and is just chilling in there. My little guy has made a new hammock/nest on top of his hideaway and has been hanging out here in the evenings not that he's been out.

Well he’s been in and out, he’s been lying on his back for a few days then going somewhere else to make/fix a hammock then having a stay in there for a few days. Been doing that for about 3 weeks now.
He’s definitely not moulted, The nests aren’t very thick I can see right through. there’s no discarded exoskeleton. There’s nothing been pushed out onto the floor either and he’s still lying on his back at the minute. He’s certainly due one though and I’ll be glad when he finally gets a move on.

 

[LadyShia77]

He may be getting ready to then.

 

[PhidRegNoob]

He may be getting ready to then.

Fingers crossed, I’m too impatient for this. I’ll obviously leave him to it but the waiting is torture for me and my ADHD huge learning curve and an exercise in finding other things to get on with while I’m waiting

thanks

 

[LadyShia77]

It was for me too. My little guy disappeared for about a week and I worried a little. I'm new to owning jumping spiders myself lol. I currently have a wild caught sling (not sure what kind) and it has disappeared inside its enclosure and I can't find it. I'm assuming it's hidden somewhere and molting, but it still worries me lol. Good luck with your little guy.

 

[Nicole C G]

It was for me too. My little guy disappeared for about a week and I worried a little. I'm new to owning jumping spiders myself lol. I currently have a wild caught sling (not sure what kind) and it has disappeared inside its enclosure and I can't find it. I'm assuming it's hidden somewhere and molting, but it still worries me lol. Good luck with your little guy.

If you have photos, I can attempt at identifying the species of your jumper.

 

[Postmalone35]

Sometimes they stay in for a very long time.

 

[LadyShia77]

If you have photos, I can attempt at identifying the species of your jumper.

I think you offered before on another thread. I'm still waiting for it to re-emerge. I'll definitely ask for identification once it comes out again. I appreciate the offer.

 

[Nicole C G]

I think you offered before on another thread. I'm still waiting for it to re-emerge. I'll definitely ask for identification once it comes out again. I appreciate the offer.

Ah, yes I remember now! Sorry, I’m bad at remembering people.

 

[LadyShia77]

Ah, yes I remember now! Sorry, I’m bad at remembering people.

You're fine lol. I'm the same way. Don't feel bad.